Chapter 228: Journey to Teiwaz
When Naze departed, Tolle boarded the Seraphim and traveled with him to Teiwaz's headquarters—Jupiter Station, the artificial satellite—to meet their chairman, McMurdo Barriston.
Upon arriving at Teiwaz's headquarters, Tolle was greeted warmly by McMurdo himself.
McMurdo looked from Naze to Tolle, who was casually walking beside him with an arm over his shoulder, and laughed proudly. "Hahaha! Welcome, Chairman Tolle of the Spark Group!"
Tolle returned the handshake with a bright smile. "Chairman McMurdo, the honor is all mine. I've long heard of your reputation."
McMurdo examined Tolle carefully, noting his youth, and said with a smile, "Ah, to be young! The future belongs to your generation. I truly am getting old."
Tolle responded with cheerful politeness, "Chairman McMurdo, you jest! You're still in your prime—surely this universe still belongs, in part, to you."
At that moment, Jasley Donomikols stepped forward with a broad smile and greeted him, "Chairman Tolle, it's a pleasure. I'm Jasley Donomikols. Like Naze, I'm one of Chairman McMurdo's adopted sons—and the second-in-command of Teiwaz's Turbines."
Tolle, not one to turn away a friendly face, shook his hand with a grin—while discreetly attaching a sample of neo DG cells to Jasley's body.
That way, when the time came, events would unfold according to the original timeline—where Jasley, driven by jealousy over Naze's success, would betray and kill him.
Afterward, Tolle planned to use the DG cells to capture Jasley and let the wives aboard the Hammerhead take their revenge.
"Ah, so you're Second-in-Command Jasley—pleasure to meet you."
McMurdo frowned slightly at Jasley's self-introduction but, unable to say much in such a setting, forced a smile and said,
"My boy might have been a bit forward—come, let's head to the banquet hall. We can talk while we eat."
"Chairman McMurdo, you're too kind. It's truly an honor," Tolle replied politely. "But before that, there's one small favor I'd like to ask of you.
Naze and I hit it off immediately. I'd like to hold a Teiwaz-style brotherhood ceremony here, if that's all right with you?"
McMurdo glanced between them, clearly surprised that Naze had formed such a bond so quickly—sworn brotherhood, no less! That would make Tolle his "son" as well, at least symbolically.
He laughed with even greater pride. "Hahaha! No problem at all! Naze is one of my adopted sons. Leave everything to me—I'll see to it that you have a grand ceremony!"
Tolle felt something a little off—Why so grand? It's not like we're getting married.
Still, he couldn't ruin the old man's enthusiasm, so he smiled and went along with it.
After the banquet, Tolle and McMurdo discussed cooperation between Teiwaz's Turbines and the Spark Interstellar Trade Security Group.
Since most of the groundwork had already been covered by Naze, the negotiations concluded quickly, and both sides signed a partnership agreement, setting the brotherhood ceremony for one week later.
Only Jasley seemed displeased—his expression tight and serious. It was obvious he resented Naze for taking the position and attention he believed should have been his.
But that wasn't Tolle's problem. In fact, that was exactly the outcome he wanted.
That night, Zola lay beside Tolle, resting against his chest as she asked softly, "My lord, why are you taking this Naze so seriously? To the point of becoming sworn brothers?"
On his other side, Lynn Minmay looked equally curious. "Mmh, yes, I'd like to know too. Don't tell me you've fallen for one of his wives?"
Tolle's heart skipped a beat. As expected of a professional actress—she saw right through me!
Still, he wouldn't admit that what he actually desired was the entire ship full of wives.
Without even blushing, he spoke earnestly, "I admire how united Teiwaz and the Turbines are. They're a loyal, honorable group.
If we want to secure our footing in this world and change its unjust systems through more civilized means, we'll need allies like them.
That's why I chose to form a brotherhood with Naze Turbine—someone who values honor above all.
After all, we can't keep relying on absorbing space pirates forever. Without political legitimacy, people will always see us as nothing more than a massive pirate organization."
As Tolle gently ran his fingers through Lynn Minmay and Zola's hair, he continued, "In this world, I haven't found someone like Treize yet. Until then, I can't decide which side to support… so I'll just go with the flow for now."
Suddenly, Ange, who was resting against his chest, bit him hard and glared up. "I've got the feeling you're feeding us nonsense—but I can't prove it."
Lynn Minmay joined in, teasingly. "I've got the feeling you're feeding us nonsense—and I also can't prove it."
Zola burst out laughing and chimed in, "I've got the feeling you're feeding us nonsense—but I can't prove it either!"
Then, in unison, all three declared,
"But we don't mind!" ×3
Each then bit him somewhere else—leaving Tolle wincing in pain, half laughing, half despairing.
I know it's all nonsense too—but you've got no proof! Hahaha! he thought, half amused, half exasperated.
At that moment, Nami's voice echoed in his mind—she appeared in his mental space wearing glowing glasses, hand posed like a finger gun beneath her chin, and quipped:
"I know you're feeding them nonsense—and I have proof! But I won't tell them~!"
Tolle nearly jumped out of his skin at the first part, thinking she was about to snitch—but the second half calmed him down again.
Still, Nami was getting a little too cheeky. Maybe it was time to consider giving her a humagear body—though that would come with risks.
If she got a physical form, his old secrets might not stay buried for long.
The next day, under Naze and his wives' guidance, Tolle and his group toured the artificial satellite, enjoying the sights.
A week later, the grand Teiwaz-style brotherhood ceremony was held at the Turbines headquarters, with representatives from major factions in attendance.
Tolle and Naze officially became sworn brothers—and the Turbines and Spark Interstellar Trade Security Group formally became partner organizations.
After spending another week at Teiwaz's main base, Tolle and his companions boarded the Seraphim and returned to the Spaceport Base.
By that time, it had been three months since Tolle's group arrived in this world—yet the Tekkadan storyline still showed no sign of beginning, and Kudelia had yet to start her movement for Martian independence.